‘Attitude to coal industry is apathetic’

Wales could be a world leader in clean coal technology were it not for the lack of foresight from the Government, a cross-party group of MPs said yesterday.

In its report into energy in Wales, the Welsh Affairs Select Committee said it was “disappointed” at the low levels of official funding for research and development of clean coal technologies, which it feels could be crucial to the UK’s future energy security.
And it said there was a “fundamental contradiction” between the Government’s desire to avoid relying on imported energy and its failure to make use of Wales’ vast coal reserves.

There are around 250 million tonnes of coal not yet mined in South Wales, but the only remaining deep mine, Tower Colliery in Hirwaun, is due to close in 2008. Last winter, coal, much of it imported, provided around half of Britain’s electricity. During the preparation of the report, officials from the Department of Trade and Industry told the committee that UK coal prices were actually lower than that of imported coal.

ICWales